He's gone. I'm still here.

[trof]

I don't blame Kerry, don't get me wrong.
I don't blame him for getting beat by the right wing machine.
And I sure I don't blame him for being a rich man.

But he'll go on with his life. Sure, last night and today was a big letdown for him, but it seems to me politics is just a game for folks like him. He has a nice life that will still be relatively untouched by Bush and his policies. In a few months, or weeks, or maybe just days he'll be able to look back on this and think "Aw, what the hell. Gave it my best shot." And go on with his life.

But I'm still out here. Holding the bag.
It's MY social security they might want to just 'tweak' a little. It's MY small government guaranteed pension they might think is just a leetle too generous. Gotta cut somewhere. Big deficits, ya know.

It's MY real estate taxes that keep climbing every year, because our state is broke, because the feds have cut way back on taxes returned to it. Hey, we gotta have those tax breaks. It's MY electric bill that has a higher and higher 'fuel surcharge' with oil at $50 a barrel.

Concession speech promises notwithstanding, I feel abandoned. And I feel stupid.
I opened my pensioner's purse to a politician. I gave the widow's mite, so to speak. I'd never done that before. Miz t. and I argued about it. I wanted to send one month's entire social security check to him. Just endorse it and mail it in. A grand symbolic gesture.
"We just can't afford that.", she said. She was right, of course. We couldn't. We compromised on $100 per month starting in May.
I paid it religiously on the first of every month.

I'm wise enough in the ways of political races to know that money is the mother's milk. I pictured little people like us doing the same all over this land each month. "By God, if it's money it takes, we'll just DO it! We have to sacrifice for this. It's important."
Now I feel like a sucker. Call it buyer's remorse, I guess.
I know I'll never do it again. Never. I may give time, which I have quite a bit of, but not another nickel.

Anyway, God bless you John Kerry. I place no blame. Have a nice life.
I'm still out here.

[kitkatrose]

1. Oh, trof...

:hug: You're breaking my heart. :cry:

[trof]

2. Cryin' out for sympathy, ain't it?

I should be embarrassed.
Thanks.
Call it a eulogy.

[kitkatrose]

15. Not that.

That's what the forum is for. But the sheer emotion, well, I've been trying not to cry but dammit you did me in. At first I didn't really like Kerry, I was for Kucinich. But somewhere during the debates, I got hopeful, and let myself believe that he would really be there for us, fight for us, that this wouldn't be a repeat of 2000. And now, I feel like a used tampon.

[trof]

17. Now you got me goin'.

Full waterworks.
I think that's what I needed.
Who says big guys don't cry?
It's cleansing.
Thanks.

[kitkatrose]

20. Looks like we both could use one.

:cry: I need just one day to scream and cry and kick things until they die, even the ones that weren't living to start with. But I don't want to lose my housing. :) Here's a :hug: to make it better. :hug:

[trof]

28. 3 of us now.

Miz t. just came in and read the thread.
Went through 5 Kleenexes.
Sends hugs to all.
Can't repeat what she said about Bush.

[Kanary]

3. I'm sorry, trof. Reality sux.

I certainly don't believe that he'll "keep fighting for" us.

Cuts kept happening before this race, and will continue long after........

We're screwed.

They're comfortable.

Hope their European holiday is joyous.

Kanary

[mr blur]

7. European holiday?

Fuck, they're not coming over here, are they?

[Kanary]

24. ~~guffaw~~ !! Thanks, I needed that laugh!!

That was great!

:hi:

Kanary

[trof]

22. Hell, I thought they were all going to Disney World.

Woops, that's for the WINNERS.
Oh, that was low.
I apologize.

[trof]

29. Yep. I find I prefer 'perception' now.

It's the Republican Way.

[Clintmax]

4. An ABSOLUTELY spectacular post!

I'm speechless. Thanks to you, Trof.

[trof]

9. No, thank YOU.

If ever a guy needed a little encouragement, well...
thanks

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. With a few small differences...

Pretty much the story of my life too.

Who will be the new Steinbeck to write about all of us, and start the process again?

[rockydem]

6. keep your chin up

the energy isn't going anywhere - the tipping point is coming, mark my words....

We will win in the end. We always do.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. I think we all feel a little foolish right now

I certainly do! I gave money I couldn't afford, something I had never done before also, because I believed in Kerry. I only wanted him to fight for us, like he said he would do. He didn't even try! I, like you, won't give another nickle.

[babylonsister]

10. What a great post! Thanks for sharing...

[mitchum]

11. Nothing to add but...BRAVO!

You have summed it up

[PsychoDad]

12. Right on.

Not all the votes were counted, Kerry conceeded.

He and Edwards have a life and a Job to get back to. Unlike some who were hoping for real change, and if not that, at least someone to fight for their vote.

Can't "blame" Kerry. It's all politics. Just a Job.

Tomorrrow everything will be back to normal for Mr Kerry, Edwards and the bush cabal.

Time to get back to rubberstamping the bushkrieg.



:(

[kiahzero]

13. Kerry will keep fighting in the Senate (n/t)

[trof]

14. Gettin' a little misty in here.

Maybe I need to take some Windex to the monitor.
Thanks guys.

[Clintmax]

16. I printed this post...

I'm going to take it to work with me tomorrow and show it to everybody. Just hand it to them and say: "Read this. Right now."

Is that OK with you, Trof?

[trof]

18. Better than OK. I'd love it.

[Clintmax]

19. Done!

Thank you!

[leftchick]

21. perfect post trof....

my feelings as well. I have been had and it sucks.

[shoopnyc123]

23. The fight is just beginning.

I have to say, as a black person, this is something we tend too feel quite often. Go to a black neighborhood. Observe the folks. Know that you're observing a people that have feelings like this all the time. Rely on one another. That's what we do when we have no answers. Rely on each other. And make it through.

[trof]

27. I'm beginning to understand.

I'm a 63 year old white guy who grew up in Birmingham in the bad old days. I've been in favor of equal rights ever since I can remember, but mostly lip service. I've lived in Chicago and Boston and traveled all over the world. I never had a black friend until I returned to Alabama. Andy came by today and we hugged and kvetched and bitched for a while. I don't think 'we' can ever really understand what you folks go through every day, but I'm damned sure getting closer to an understanding.
Thanks for your comment.

[redqueen]

25. Aww trof

I didn't give as much as you, but I gave more than I could afford, to Kucinich and Kerry. I don't want to let go of this hope. I won't. I'll spend a few more days on this emotional roller coaster then get back to work.

Nothing good in this country ever came from the top down, it always happens from the bottom up. We can still make things better, I know it.

:hug:

[Sugarbleus]

26. Oh wow Trof...you words are rich.......

You said something in particular I can relate to: "the widows mite"

I wrote almost these same words in here earlier this day. I too am a disabled low-income citizen. I have NEVER given money to a campaign. I had the EXACT same feeling about contributing: "if it takes money, I'll sacrifice".

I gave my paltry sums monthly starting in March (first with Kucinich then Kerry). So here we sit. The money's gone but I'll survive. It's the HUGE letdown to what seemed to be a sure thing. Today, with all the money given, my hopes dashed, I feel like I've been ripped off by a damned televangelist!!!!!

Time will go by, my income will go down. In any case, I won't contribute money to politicians ever again...My first and last effort. Thank you America.

[UNIXcock]

30. ... Best post ever

... n/t

[merh]

31. Hugs to you trof! Thank you for this post...

We are still out here. Will it matter to them that 50 million voted against * and need their help???

:grouphug: to you and yours! I have cried on and off all day, but tears are necessary, aren't they? :cry:

[trof]

32. Hugs back to you.

I've hugged about everything animate I could find today.
The checker at Winn Dixie seemed especially appreciative.
The guy at the tire store didn't seem to be quite as enthusiastic.
Hey...I think I just got my sense of humor back.
Damn! I was really missing it.